Hmmm……I can hear you thinking….. I didn’t receive Joan’s annual sob story about
her cancer. It’s not in my spam folder
(although I do think some of you wish that it would or will just go
there). You don’t think she croaked or
something….. No, no – she said last year
that the docs had given her at least 24 months.
And I know that she said that she would do the “American Cancer Society’s
Relay for Life” come hell or high water.
Hmmmm……
Well, you can quit your humming. I’m not dead yet. (Although for Christmas, I got 5 new shiny
tumors – 4 in my spine and 1 in my sternum).
Yes, I’m still having my wonderful, monthly chemo visits. Plus I also got to try out a new form of radiation
at Christmas time. I had 4 treatments, 4
days, 90 minutes each day instead of 80 treatments, 80 days (of schlepping back
and forth on the ferry), 4 minutes each day.
The new form of radiation called “Cyberknife” was developed by those incredible
doctors at Stanford. Gotta love
them. The only down side is that I am and
will suffer from radiation poisoning for a year. And while the tumor on my sternum is reducing
in size, unfortunately the tumors on my spine are just sitting there, not
getting bigger nor getting smaller – just giving me a real “pain in the back”. So how do you like my annual sob story so
far?
So let’s talk about the “Relay for Life”, what’s up with
that. Unfortunately this year the “Relay”
is happening off island over in Poulsbo…..and yes, I probably could go there….but
- I’m a stinker. Remember, I always do
this walking thing at 10 p.m. when my cancer pain is the worst. And believe it or not, I just don’t think I
could subject myself to some more torture.
Soo…..I’ve decided while I may not participate in the “Relay”, I am
going to walk the walk, so to speak.
This Saturday, July 14th, at 10 pm, I’m going to go to the
High School on Bainbridge, jump the fence, and at least walk one lap around the
track. I just want to prove that I can
still walk at least once around the track (although Rainer’s been teasing me -
perhaps I should get a walker to aid me in my quest). I am living with cancer, yes I tick down a
little bit more with each passing day but I just want to make sure that I am
still …..alive.
Now I’m not expecting those from far – i.e. East Coast, San
Francisco, Florida, Sacramento, Rimerman people, and any one in between to hop
a flight and hold my hand while I walk a lap.
However, if there are any islanders who want to also “jump the fence”
and walk around in circles – please feel free to. Although, I’m pretty sure we’re not supposed
to be on that track at 10 pm, and of course we could all be arrested, but you
only live once. (Excuse me while I pick
myself up off the floor – I fell out of my chair from the cancer humor). Bring your children, bring your flashlights,
bring your smiles and be glad to be alive.
Just a little bit more reading and then I’ll let you dump
this email into your garbage. Now for
those of you who are feeling guilty or are just looking for a tax deduction, I
have a suggestion for you. Rather than
plunking down your money to the American Cancer Society, I invite you to
forward a donation to “Swedish Hospital Children’s Cancer Foundation”, 801 Broadway, 10th Floor, Seattle,
WA 98122. Just tell them that I sent you. Swedish is a remarkable hospital.
“Relay” next year?
Not sure, we’ll just wait and see…..I think I can make it another year.
